Office for Students

Regulatory guidance

Short guides

Introduction to the OfS

Our role as the regulator for higher education in England

What is registration?

What it means to register with the OfS

The Register

Search for English higher education providers registered by the OfS

Regulatory framework

The framework of regulation for higher education in England

How to register

A step-by-step guide to the process of registering

Regulatory notices and advice

Formal requirements for all registered providers

Reforms to requirements for registration

Outcomes of recent reforms to registration, including new conditions of registration

Monitoring and intervention

How we monitor registered providers

Reportable events

Events or matters that registered providers must raise with the OfS

University title

How to apply for the title of 'university'

Degree awarding powers

The different powers and how to apply for them

Subcontracting or validating higher education

The differences between them and regulatory requirements

Regulatory case reports

Reports that explain regulatory decisions

Refused registration decisions

Details of decisions to refuse registration

Withdrawn applications for registration

Details of providers that withdrew their application

Government guidance

Strategic advice and priorities from government

Information for overseas regulatory agencies

An introduction to the OfS for overseas regulatory agencies

Mergers, acquisitions and changes to legal status

How we support providers planning a merger, acquisition, change of ownership, or change of legal form

Latest on registering with the OfS

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